A batch of forged Scottish bank notes are currently doing the rounds in Leeds - ripping off local businesses in the process.

There are reports that the counterfeit cash has been used to buy and drink in restaurants in the city.

Other businesses in the area have been left out of pocket due to the scam with fraudsters using the fake £20 Bank of Scotland notes to buy "small items" from stores and second hand cars.

On some occasions, traders have been asked to change the notes for English ones according to West Yorkshire Police.

The force is now warning other businesses to be on their guard and ensure they are not ripped off by the scam.

How to spot the counterfeit notes

Serial Numbers – Genuine notes have unique serial numbers therefore if you have two notes displaying the same serial number then at least one of them is a counterfeit

Paper – Genuine banknote paper should be reasonably crisp and not limp, waxy or shiny and the special printing processes give banknotes an individual feel.

Watermark – Genuine watermarks should be hardly apparent until the note is held up to the light when the clear portrait with subtle light and shade becomes visible. The watermark on RBS ban notes is an image of Lord Ilay who appears on the front of the banknotes.

Security Thread – Genuine notes have a metallic thread embedded in the paper and when the note is held up to the light the thread appears as a bold continuous line.

Printing – Raised print is used in some of the features on genuine banknotes and should feel slightly rough to the touch. Lines and print should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct – not hazy. The wording on genuine RBS banknotes is in raised print.

Move/Tilt – If a genuine note bears a hologram the colours/images will change depending on the angle the note is held.

Detector Pen – Detector pens leave a dark line on most counterfeit notes - if the note is genuine the pen leaves no mark.

UV Light – Genuine banknotes are dull under a UV light with only the special UV features present in the note highlighted yellow

Magnifying Glass – Genuine notes contain some microprint that is only visible using a magnifying glass. On RBS banknotes microprint features within the block of colour at the bottom of the front of the note and should read ‘RBSRBSRBSRBS’ and the line above this block of colour should read ‘The Royal Bank of Scotland’

Sergeant Fiona Van Kampen, of Leeds District Contact Management Unit, said: “Although the use of counterfeit currency is thankfully still relatively rare, we have recently had a number of reports of fake Scottish banknotes being used in Leeds which suggests there has been an increase.

“While we don’t want people to be unduly alarmed, we would like businesses particularly to be vigilant and take all the normal precautions to check that any notes used for transactions are genuine.

“They should check more than one of the relevant security features, including the feel of the paper, the watermark, raised print, and any move/tilt hologram.

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“It is a criminal offence to hold or pass a banknote knowing it to be counterfeit and any business who encounters one should not return it to the person and should contact the police. We would ask they note a description of the passer and any vehicle details to assist with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555111.